At age 20, I launched my first company from my college dorm room. Since then, I’ve built and invested in companies as diverse as renewable water, sustainable agriculture and financial access. In all of these ventures, I’ve been motivated by the same strong purpose: to put my capital to work building a more sustainable, equitable world.

I am a committed proponent of impact investing, an investment philosophy that seeks not only financial returns but a positive social and environmental return, as well. While the categories of impact investments may be broad -- perhaps they aim to assist with poverty alleviation, reverse climate disruption, improve access to education or healthcare or facilitate cleaner water or air -- all impact investments share a common goal, which is to deliver social and environmental benefit alongside financial gain.

In 2017, investing has become democratized. The internet has brought increasing transparency, and gone are the days of blindly investing in portfolios. In 2017, not only are investments in traditional industries like oil and gas largely out of favor, but they also carry potentially significant reputational risk. Simultaneously, a younger generation of investors and consumers have taken a more inclusive and wholesome approach to their money, and “doing well by doing good” is the new norm. This customer base seeks positive investments that align with their values and routinely asks about the social and environmental contributions of the companies they support.

As investment markets continue to shift and consumer behavior becomes increasingly conscious, the collective bar rises toward a more equitable and sustainable benchmark.

There is a role for everyone to play in the effort to rebuild capitalism as a tool for wealth creation and for good. With that in mind, here are five tips for everyday impact investing in 2018.

1. Switch your bank.

As was widely publicized during the Dakota Access Pipeline protests, many traditional banks are heavily invested in fossil fuels. In addition, many possess holdings in tobacco and munitions companies. The last five years have seen the creation of a number of responsible banks. One such company is Aspiration Bank, whose motto “Do Well. Do Good.” speaks for itself. Aspiration offers funds that are entirely fossil fuel free. And Aspiration isn’t the only impact focused-bank; I also like Beneficial State Bank and New Resource Bank, both of which have deep commitments to the environment, sustainability and community-level prosperity.